Rockets prove they can play on Lakers’ level

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Though there was no disputing the difficulty of facing the Lakers tonight in Staples Center, Rockets forward Luis Scola said the challenge is not to play at another level. He cited road wins against Chicago, San Antonio, Denver and Oklahoma City as examples of the Rockets playing on that level and said the trick is to stay there.

“They have two or three superstars, which is two or three more than we do,” Scola said. “That’s always a concern. But we’ve been winning big games. We’ve been winning big games on the road, too.

“I think we have done a good job playing good games. We need to find a way to be the team we want to be, the team that won those games. It’s been a challenge for us the whole season to be consistent every day. We got better.”

Boykins gets 10 more days

The Rockets on Thursday signed guard Earl Boykins to a second 10-day contract, keeping him with the team for five more games.

The Rockets could have signed Boykins for the remainder of the season, but customarily they attach an additional non-guaranteed season to those contracts, as with guard Courtney Fortson’s deal. An offer like that likely would not have worked as well for a veteran, more likely to seek a guaranteed deal before committing to go to camp with a team.

“At the time I signed (the initial 10-day contract with the Rockets) I was actually talking to another team … on the cusp of the playoffs just like they were here,” Boykins said, without naming the other team. “I just felt this was a better situation for me.

“I just wanted to come in and help the team with stability. As a point guard, your job is to be a leader out on the court and to play steady. Hopefully, that is what I have done and will continue to do.”

The Rockets on Thursday also sent guard Courtney Fortson to the NBA Development League.

Resting ribs

Rockets guard Goran Dragic, who has had sore ribs since Sunday’s game against the Pacers, went through only a small portion of Thursday’s practice, but said the ribs were not an issue Monday in Chicago after he warmed up.

“It’s just a rest,” Dragic said. “I got hit in my ribs, but it’s nothing serious, just pain. That’s it. When you get warm it’s OK, it’s not hurting me. When you begin a practice or finish a practice, you feel a little bit of pain.”